In the midst of one of the busiest air travel seasons I was just wondering, how fellow traveller were doing. Any bump stories to share? When, where, what kind of compensation was offered?

I was on an AA PVD-ORD flight on the 20th and it was oversold by a few seats. They didn't announce it - only quietly put up a framed sign asking for volunteers. I was gonna go for it but I would've had to take a 6am flight the next morning.
Funny, though, .. the GAs didn't specify the compensation amount.

Looks like my flights on the 29th are oversold as well.

I was scheduled to fly out on Wed. nite 19 Dec. Flight oversold by 20+ people, 7 people volunteered including myself. Was US flight LAX-PIT at 10:30PM. Needed to work overtime at work next day. Getting that and free ticket was quite nice. Got rescheduled for flight two days later on 12/21. (ok with me as I worked the overtime & visited relatives nearby the next day). Also needed volunteers on 12/21 but only could be confirmed on 12/24. Am coming back on Christmas so did not take up offer.

AA Flt 22 LAX-JFK on Sat, 12/22 was oversold and they offered $700 vouchers for volunteers. Unfortunately I was unable to get on the volunteer list despite asking on the phone (when they called me at home to advise me the flight would be late), at SAN when I checked in for the first leg of my trip, or at the gate when I got to LAX. The agents at the gate in LAX were obviously harried and overwhelmed so I did not press the issue.

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-Bob Mc

On the 23rd, I saw that the DL 1:00 flight running CVG-SFO was oversold. They were offering $400 vouchers for people to take the 6:30ish flight (I think that was the time, might've been 5:30). This was announced once over the PA, and shown on the DL flat screens as well.

DL also offered $50 upgrade from the non-cheapie fares (I think you LUser and even K class didn't qualify). This is some test market thing they're trying now. Elites trying to upgrade get cleared first, but they'll put a non-elite in a first class seat if they pony up the $50. They'll do that before they upgrade LUser fares, of course.

Actually, it's a neat trick. If they overbook the flight in coach, and there are empty seats in first, they're going to have to bump somebody. Might as well try to get $50 out of it.

(Edited to fix a typo. There's probably more, but it's late.)

[This message has been edited by ebell (edited 12-24-2001).]

I have a terriable one at NW's Forum

I seem to have terrible luck with bumps. I have offered my seat maybe 6-7 times this year, but have never been bumped. Never.

So, Christmas was no exception! Flight from IAD to MUC (Munich) was oversold by 20 in coach and 5 in business. Offered my seat, was the first on the list, indicated my utmost desire to be bumped... argh, but no such luck.

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"What do you mean you didn't get miles for that?!"

UA 276 SFO->MCO on the 21st. they took 3 volunteers (including me). tried to offer a roundtrip ticket, but i asked for a voucher instead and got $600. also put me up for the night at an airport hotel w/ dinner and breakfast. went out on the same flight the next day, in F.

The next day, they asked for volunteers, but i don't think they used any (i didn't try)

dan

My roommate was to fly take the CO redeye on 12/22 from SEA-EWR. She took the bump for $400. They flew her to PDX on 12/22, put her up at the airport Embassy Suites, $25 for food and sent her in F PDX-EWR-PVD on sunday 12/23.

She just called from EWR to inform me that there were no bumps for PVD-EWR, but she took $300 and a F seat for a 3.5 hour delay for her EWR-SEA seat.

For the 1035a SEA-PHL flight on 12/22, US was offering their standard free ticket and an F ticket on that night's red-eye.

[This message has been edited by chexfan (edited 12-26-2001).]

I was scheduled to take the 5:30 NW flight from IAD to MSP on 12/21. I volunteered to be bumped to a early flight the next day.

They gave me a $300 voucher and a ticket to anywhere in the continential US, Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. I also received meal and cab vouchers (my new flight was out of BWI) and was moved to first class.

Was scheduled for 12/25 MDT-PIT-IND #977 720p - 815p / #341 845p - 1002p. The PIT - IND flight was cancelled due to crew calling in sick (US had around 100 flights throughout the system cancelled because of crew calling in sick). Ended up at PIT airport Hampton Inn and Denny's for dinner. Got on 12/26/01 PIT - IND US Airways Express flight instead.

$ 300 AND a free N.A, Carribean ticket, that's pretty good, DC flyer!

Did you get any compensation as well, Bowdenj?

12/20, CO 423, SEA to IAH: Request for volunteers over the PA on the plane. Compensation reported to be $400.

funny, I took the bump from the 2:30pm flight ONTO that red-eye... I almost took the second bump, but there were stating they were "shooting for the red-eye tomorrow" to get the bumped people to EWR...

12-31-01 Southwest Airlines: 2:45 PM Phoenix to San Antonio (continuing on to TPA). Asking for volunteers. Compensation offered was $200 plus the price of your one way ticket. Able to get pxs home same day via LAX.

Made the same offer many times. After we had boarded there were 4 px in the aisle without seats. They made the announcement for any unticketed babies to take their lap seats.

I don't know how they found seats for those 4 pxs, as I didn't see anyone deplane. Southwest didn't sweeten the offer as far as I know. I wasn't interested as I don't plan to fly Southwest very often in the next year.

The lines at the ticket counter and the gates were horrendous on both my outbound and inbound. I spent many hours in line. Makes me appreciate status with Delta. At least that is valuable for something.